Quenching device



June 24, 1941. H. w. GRoNEMEYx-:R

QUENCHING DEVICE Filed April l5, 1940 ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1941 naar oEricE QUENCHING DEVICE Herbert W. Gronemeyer, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Sheffield Steel Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 329,651

16 Claims.

My invention relates to quenching devices, and more particularly to quenching devices utilized in the heat treatment of steel objects.

In order to improve the physical properties of and to take advantage of the inherent qualities of certain steels, and other metals, these are subjected to heat treatment before being placed in use. One common form of heat treatment is to quench a piece of steel in some liquid medium after the steel has been heated to a certain temperature. Sometimes the heat in the steel is that remaining after some other operation, such as a forging operation, but for best control of the heat treatment, it is usually desirable to re-heat the object that is to be treated to a certain known temperature and then to quench it, or cool it, in a body of liquid of a predetermined temperature. This heating and cooling may not constitute the entire heat treatment desired, but in practically all cases the quenching operation is of great importance in obtaining the desired physical properties and other desirable characteristics of steels, and other metals, above referred to.

In order to obtain the desired effect of the quenching on the article that is being quenched and to get uniform results without warpage, soft spots, and severe internal stresses that result from improper quenching, it is necessary to carefully control the quenching operation. This means that not only must the temperature of the liquid medium be controlled, but the length of time that the article is subjected to the cooling effect of the liquid medium at that temperature must be controlled closely. It is immaterial what quenching medium is used, that is, whether it is water, brine, or oil, it is desirable to obtain such control, and it is an important purpose of my invention to provide means for obtaining such control of the quenching.

In order to get uniform quenching and to avoid the difhculties above referred to, it is necessary that the quench abstract heat uniformly from all parts of the piece of work that is in the quenching medium, and that no steam or vapor bubbles be allowed to blanket the work and thus slow down the abstraction of heat therefrom, and that no external object be permitted to remain in contact with the work to shield it from heat abstraction. It is accordingly desirable to keep the work out of contact with the walls, or bottom, of the receptacle in which the quenching medium is contained, and to maintain a turbulent condition in the quenching medium to prevent any adherence of scale particles, or other foreign matter, or the continued contact of one vor more of the articles, that are being quenched, with each other during the quenching operation. It is one of the purposes of my invention to provide an apparatus in which the work, or article, that is being quenched, is kept out of continued contact with the walls of the quenching receptacle during the quenching operation, and in which the quenching medium is kept agitated so as to prevent continued contact of one of such articles, or objects, with another thereof, if more than one is quenched at a time, and to prevent the formation of steam or vapor bubbles around the surface of the object and the accumulation of any scale thereon.

In order to obtain the desired qualities of the quench above referred to, liquid is moved upwardly through a passage into a receptacle at such a rate and in such a direction as to float the work at a substantially constant level in a body of liquid, into which said upwardly moving stream of liquid enters, so that the piece of work that is being quenched will be subjected over its entire area to the same quenching conditions, and all bubbles, or particles, that might otherwise adhere to the surface of the work, are swept off, or kept from accumulating thereon. 1t has been found that by flaring an inlet passage of relatively restricted cross section into a funnel-like member, that constitutes the receptacle for the work that is being quenched and for the body of water or other liquid in which the quenching is done, a level is denitely established at which the kwork will float, as below this level the upward velocity is greater than that required for flotation, while above that level the velocity is insufficient to float the work. The taper of the funnel-like, or flaring wall of the receptacle, can be determined so as to get the proper level of suspension of the piece of work in the body of liquid, while the passage through which the liquid flows upwardly into the receptacle is maintained of such size as to be somewhat larger than the pieces of work that are being quenched, whereby this passage is capable of utilization as mea-ns through which the quenched work can be discharged when the quenching operation is completed.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide quenching apparatus, in which the work is maintained in asuspended condition in a turbulent body of liquid, by an upward stream of liquid introduced through a passage extending into the bottom of a funnel-like receptacle containing a body of liquid and in which discharge of the work that has been quenched will take place through this passage upon interruption of the upward flow of liquid through the passage, the apparatus being provided with means for discharging the piece, or pieces, of work and the liquid in such a manner that the liquid is returned to a reservoir, from which its is re-circulated to quench other pieces of work, and the piece, or pieces, of work are discharged into a suitable receptacle for accumulating the same.

t is a further purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character, in which one or several pieces of work will remain suspended in the funnel-like receptacle while rotating about their own axes and at the same time moving about in the funnel-like member, this being obtained by maintaining the proper liquid velocity as compared with the size of passage emptying into the funnel-like member and the taper of the funnel-like member. It is also a purpose of my invention to provide means for introducing a piece of work into said receptacle in a manner that an initial rotation is irnparted thereto, which is maintained by the stream of liquid entering said receptacle.

The operation of an apparatus of the above mentioned character may be controlled manually or otherwise, when each piece, or group of pieces, of work is introduced into the receptacie from above, the upward flow of quenching liquid has been started, thus providing a body of quenching liquid having such an upwardly directed stream of quenching liquid therein for receiving the article, or articles, to be quenched when these enter the receptacle, and maintaining the upward stream of liquid in the body of liquid in the receptacle for a predetermined period of time after each article, or piece of work, or group of pieces of work, enters the body of quenching liquid, to thus subject these to the quenching action for a uniform and predetermined period of time, the apparatus comprising means for haiting the upward flow of the quenching liquid and at the same time providing a discharge passage out of the apparatus, so that the quenching liqiid, as well as the piece, or pieces, of work, will be discharged by gravity therefrom and the quenching liquid and said articles separated as above referred to.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawing proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that 1 do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or escribed, except as dened in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of one forni of my improved quenching device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of 1, on -an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. is a section Fig. 3'.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of another form of my invention.

ig. 6 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional View t rough one of the valves utilized in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line i--ii of Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, my inproved quenching device comprises a receptacle il), which is provided with a conical wall, so that taken on the line /i-- of on i and of greater eight than the wall pornanging fiange providing a large opening i5 in the top of said quenching device, through which objects that are to be quenched can be ed by gravity in any desired manner. The rticles that are to be quenched may be merely roppcd through the opening i5, but if balls, or similar objects that wiil roll, are to be quenched, these are, preferably, fed into the receptacle by rolling the same down an inclined chute 98, which may be oi any desired character, the lower end portion ol the same being shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The vertical wall portion i3 and the cverhanging iiange Eli serve as guard means to prevent escape of cooling liquid by splashing or otherwise from the device, and the vertical wall portion ii, together with the wall portions l2 and i3, serve to form an annular trough-like portion it for catching the cooling liquid that will overriow the top edge il of the wall portion li. A drain pipe or liquid return conduit i8 extends from the trough-like portion I6 to a tank-like member it, which serves as a reservoir for said cooling liquid. The lower end portion of the funnel-like upper body portion of my quenching device terminates in a substantially cylindrical downward extension 2E.

lvIy quenching device further comprises a lower body portion 2i, which is hollow to provide a chamber within the same, and which is provided with an upwardly extending tubular portion 22, which, preferably, terminates in an annular lateral outwardly extending flange 23, to which a similar flange 2li on the bottom end of the cylindrical portion 2t of the upper body is secured by mea-ns of any suitable securing elements, such as the bolt-like members 25, a liquid tight joint being provided between said anges by means of a suitable packing material 26 between said flanges 23 and 2i.

A suitable adapter 2 is received in the cylindrical portion 23, ntting tightly therein so as to be in fixed position after being forced into place. Said adapter 27 has a cylindrical passage 28 therein, which leads to a flaring passage 29 in the upper end portion of the adapter that terminates in a sharp beveled edge 2il, which meets the sloping wall of the receptacle I and thus forms a part of the conical wall of the receptacle when the adapter member 2 is in place, the wall portion 2e thus forming a continuation oi the flaring or conical wall portion of the main body portion of said receptacle 4B, and said passage 28 opening directly into the smallest part of the flaring wall of the receptacle thus formed partly of the wall of the body portion and partly of the tapering or aring wall of the adapter. The adapter members are utilized for adjusting the size of the inlet passage into the bottom of the quenching receptacle in accordance with the size of balls, or other objects, that are to be quenched, the passage 28 being slightly larger than the size of the objects that are to be quenched, so that these can readily pass therethrough, as will be described below, but being of such size as to provide sufficient restriction ci sa M of a stream of liquid is created in the receptacle Hl. Thus, if larger objects are to be quenched, a diierent adapter member is inserted inthe passage 2i), as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, said adapter member having a larger cylindrical opening 23 therein than the opening 23.

The lower body portion 2| has a large side opening 3l] therein and a smaller side opening 3| therein. From the side opening 3| a tubular portion 32 extends, which terminates in a flange 33. Said tubular portion 32 provides an inlet passage leading to the opening 3| and is connected by means of suitable securing elements, such as the bolt-like members 34, with a similar flange 35 on a conduit 36, which may be made up of a number of sections, and which extends from a pump 3l that has an inlet connection 38 leading from the reservoir I9, said pump being driven in any suitable manner, as by means of the motor 39.

A rotary valve member 4|) is mounted within the body portion 2|, having a curved transverse wall portion 4| that is provided with convexly curved end faces 42 that conform to the concave inner face 43 of the body portion 2|. Said valve member 40 has an annular flange portion 8 seated in a circular opening 9 in the body portion 2| and a disk-like portion 59 seated in a circular opening il in said body portion, said body portion having a plate 8|] bolted thereto to close one side thereof and having a plate 8| bolted thereto on the other side thereof, said plate 8| having an opening 46 therein through which the body of valve 4i] projects, said valve tting said opening snugly and being rotatable therein. The disk 59 may be provided with a reinforcing rib Bil and the ange 8 with a reinforcing rib 86, if desired, and said flange 8 and disk 59 are preferably connected by a web portion 81 to further strengthen the same.

Said lower body portion 2| thus comprises a chamber that leads to the passage within the tubular portion 22 and from said tubular portion 22 to the passage within the adapter mem-- ber 2l or the passage within the cylindrical portion 2li of the upper body portion when no adapter is utilized therein, as when the largest size objects that can be quenched by the apparatus are being acted on, and thus into the bottom end of the funnel-like receptacle Ill. Said chamber in the lower body portion further comprises a Valve chamber for the rotary valve 4D, and it will be obvious that said rotary valve can be moved to two different positions by means of the lever 44, which can be operated either by hand or by suitable mechanism, said lever 44 being iixed to the body portion of the valve 40 by means of any suitable securing element 45. Suitable stopmeans is provided to limit movement of said lever between the alternative positions of said valve, such as the stop pin B2 on the valve 40 and the 4cooperating stop pins 83 and 84 on the plate 8|. It will be obvious that the lever 44 is connected with the body portion of the valve 40 in such a manner that there can be no relative rotation or the lever 44 and said body portion 4i), the same being illustrated as being mounted in a groove in the member 4|) as shown in the drawing. One of the positions of the valve member is shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and the other in dotted lines. i

In the position of the valve shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and also shown in Fig. 1, the inlet for the cooling liquid at 3| is connected with the flaring funnel-like receptacle lil, so that an upwardly directed stream of liquid enters the bottom of said funnel-like receptacle substantially centrally, or axially, thereof. Ater said valve has been in the full line position shown a suicient length of time for the receptacle lll to be lled, so that the liquid overflows the wall into the trough i6, the condition within the receptacle I0 will be such that a grinding ball, or other object, or objects, that are to be quenched, may be dropped through the opening I5 or rolled down the chute 9|] through said opening into the open top of the funnel-like receptacle l0. This rolling gives a rotation to a ball or similar object as it enters the body of cooling liquid that exists in the receptacle IU and within which there is an upwardly directed stream of cooling liquid, which has a suicient velocity that at a certain point in the height of said receptacle the object that is to be quenched, or objects that are to be quenched, will be stopped in the ordinary course of descent, due to the action of gravity, and be suspended within the receptacle Il] at a point spaced from the top and bottom thereof, and there will be such agitation or turbulence of the liquid in the receptacle created by said upward stream of liquid, that one or more of such objects can be suspended in the liquid and will at no time contact each other or the conical wall of the receptacle it for any appreciable continuous time interval. Also no scale or other foreign matter will adhere to the balls, due to the fact that the same will be thoroughly agitated and the cooling liquid will be continuously iiowing past all portions of the surface of the object that is being quenched, which will tend to rotate about its center within the body of cooling liquid. This agitation and turbulence of the liquid, as well as movement of the object, or objects, that are being quenched, will prevent any formation of bubbles of steam, or gases, on the surface of the object that is being quenched, which would interfere with the uniform quenching action of the quenching liquid. One of the objects that is' beingl quenched is shown at 4'! in Fig. l at substantially the position at which the same will be suspended by the upward stream of cooling liquid within the body of cooling liquid in the conical body portion of the quenching receptacle.

After the object, or objects, that are to be quenched have been subjected to the quenching, or cooling, action of the cooling liquid for a predetermined interval of time, the lever 44 is moved to its alternative position to move the valve member 4I) to such a. position that the wall portion 4| will move into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the inlet opening 3| will be closed off from the passage through the upwardly extending tubular portion 22. At the same time a passage will be provided from the receptacle l@ to the opening 3|), so that the cooling liquid and the object, or objects, in the receptacle Ill Will pass downwardly through the passage 23 and through the chamber in the body portion to the opening 3u, and through said opening to be discharged from the device,

The body portion 2| is, preferably, provided with a downwardly extending bracket 4t, which is provided with a flange 43, to which a bracket 5B, supporting a chute 5|, is connected. It will be obvious that the ball-like members, or other objects, that are discharged by gravity through the opening 36, will travel down the inclined surface of the chute 5|. A suitable receptacle 52.for

the ball-like members 47, or other objects, that have been quenched, is provided, which is further provided with a wall portion of wire or other character having perforations, through which the cooling liquid will drain on" into the reservoir I9. While a basket-like member mounted on suitable supports 53 is shown in the drawing, obviously any other means for separating the liquid cooling medium and the solid objects that have been quenched may be provided, but, preferably, the cooling liquid is returned to the reservoir I9 in some manner.

It is necessary that the cooling liquid be maintained at a predetermined temperature, and in order that this may be accomplished, suitable means for controlling said temperature is provided, comprising a conduit Ei for a heating medium, such as steam, leading into said reservoir i9, and a conduit 55 for cooling liquid also leading into said receptacle. The cooling liquid in conduit 55 is usually at a normal temperature, below the temperature at which it is desired to maintain the body of cooling medium 56 in the reservoir I9, and accordingly adjustable thermostatc valve means 5? is provided for the heating medium supply conduit Effi, and similar adjustable thermostatic valve means 5S is provided for the cooling liquid conduit 55. It will be obvious that the thermostatically controlled valves 51 and 58 can be adjusted to maintain the temperature of the cooling liquid 56 in the reservoir i9 within desired upper and lower limits.

It will be noted that the valve member ill has the transverse wall Iii thereof transversely curved, well as curved in a lengthwise direction, thus aiding in guiding the objects that are to be discharged from the quenching receptacle through the opening 3!) toward said opening, particularly if said objects that are to be quenched are balllike members.

Instcad of providing rotary valve means, such as shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, a pair of lever operated gate valves can be utilized, such` as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive. These gate valves must be capable of being opened and closed quickly. The upper body portion i is made in precisely the same manner as previously described and the same reference numerals are applied thereto. The lower body portion 2l', however, is provided with a chamber within the same, and said chamber 6d terminates in an upwardly extending tubular portion 6l, which has a rlange thereon that is connected with the flange 2li on the cylindrical portion 2lb of the upper body portion Eil in a similar manner to that previously described.

The reservoir id is provided with the pump 3l having the inlet conduit 38 and the discharge conduit as previously described, and the temperat e ci the cooling liquid 56 therein is maintained between said upper and lower temperature limits by means of the heating medium and cooling liquid controlled by the thermostatic valves 5l and 58 in the same manner as has been described above. The body portion 2l has a short downward tubular extension t3 and a lateral tubular extension providing a lateral inlet opening into the chamber t, and a bottom discharge opening from said chamber 6i). The downward extension has a valve member E55 connected therewith and the lateral extension Se has a valve member 6E connected therewith. Said valve members S5 and 66 are of the same construction and accordingly only one thereof is illustrated in detail and described herein,

The valve 66 serves as the inlet valve leading to the cooling liquid inlet passage Eli, which communicates with the chamber l] and thus through the opening in the adapter member 27, or the cylindrical portion 2i), to the flaring funnelshaped body portion of the quenching receptacle I0. Said valve member 66 is provided with suitable langes 6l for connecting the same with the flange 3d on the conduit 36 and with a flange 68 on the lateral extension 611 on the body portion 2|', said connection being made by any suitable fastening elements, such as the bolt-like members 69, and suitable packing material 'l being provided between said flanges. The valve member is provided with a sliding gate mem-ber il of well known character, which is operated by means of the valve rod l2, which is connected pivotally with a lever member i3, which is pivoted at one end thereof to a standard 74. The valve member 55 is made in the same manner, and it will be obvious that when the valve member 'il is in the position shown, the ilow of cooling liquid into the reservoir lll will be interrupted, and that if the Valve member is moved to an open position, after said member 'l is closed, the cooling liquid within the receptacle lo and the objects that are being cooled will pass through the passage in the valve b5 through the opening in the bottom iiange 57 'thereof into the receptacle 52 for the objects that have been quenched, said objects il and the quenching liquid 56 being separated in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. l to 4, inclusive, due to the periorations, or openings, provided in the receptacle 52.

The quenching devices above described are suitable for use with any quenching liquid, such as those commonly used, including oil, brine and water. However, it is ordinarily difficult to obtain such uniform quenching action with water, as is necessary to produce an article that has uniform hardness and a uniform grain structure for all portions thereof, and which does not have any flaws or defects therein. Accordingly, with the ordinary quenching means previously utilized, it has required great care to get the desired uniform results, while with my improved apparatus there is no difficulty encountered in getting uniform action oi the quenching liquid on the object, or objects, that are being quenched, and accordingly my improved quenching device is particularly adaptable i'or use with water as a quenching liquid.

It has been found to be highly satisfactory to use a funnel-like member It), approximately I8 inches in diameter, at the top, with a vertical wall portion ll about six inches in height, with the included angle of the cone of the funnel substantially 60 degrees, and the inlet or cylindrical bottom portion 2o of the funnel about 6 inches in diameter and about 6 inches long. An adapter member 2l with the passage 2S therein of a diameter of 51/4 inches, and with water Iiowing through the same into the funnel member under a pressure of approximately 20 pounds per square inch, will permit the quenching of balls in the manner above set forth of 5 inch, 4% inch and 4 inch diameter. These balls will dance around mainly in the upperhalf of the funnel portion, being held from passing below substantially the mid-portion of the height of the funnel by the upwardly flowing stream of water. When 3 inch and 31/2 inch diameter balls are to be quenched, an adapter is used, which has an internal diameter of 3% inches, and a somewhat lower water pressure is used. These proportions are given, vof course, merely by way of example.

What I claim is:

1. A quenching device of the character described comprising a receptacle flaring upwardly from the bottom thereof and forming an unobstructed chamber of increasing cross section from near the bottom thereof to near the top thereof, a liquid inlet in said bottom having means for directing a stream of liquid upwardly from said bottom of said receptacle into said chamber, said receptacle being of such depth that the liquid from said stream will accumulate therein to form a body of said liquid therein, means for feeding' metallic objects heated to a predetermined temperature into the upper portion of said receptacle and into said body of liquid, and overiiow means for discharging liquid from said receptacle.

2. A quenching device of the character described comprising a receptacle flaring upwardly from the bottom thereof, a liquid inlet in said bottom having means for directing a stream of liquid upwardly from said bottom substantially centrally of said receptacle, said receptacle being of such depth that the liquid from said stream will accumulate therein to form a body of said liquid therein, means for feeding metallic objects heated to a predetermined temperature into the upper portion of said receptacle and into said body of liquid, and overflow means for discharging liquid from said receptacle, said feeding means discharging said objects therefrom into said liquid by gravity to permit complete immerf1 sion of said objects in said liquid.

3. A quenching device of the character described comprising a receptacle flaring upwardly from the bottom thereof, a liquid inlet in said bottom having means for directing a stream of liquid upwardly from said bottom substantially centrally of said receptacle, said receptacle being of such depth that the liquid from the stream will accumulate therein to form a body of said liquid therein, means for feeding metallic objects heated to a predetermined temperature into the upper portion of said receptacle and into said body of liquid, overflow means for discharging liquid from said receptacle and means controlling the supply of liquid to said inlet, said inlet providing a discharge passage for said objects from said receptacle upon interruption of said upwardly directed stream of liquid therethrough.

4. A quenching device of the character described comprising an open topped receptacle i flaring upwardly uniformly from the bottom thereof to near the top thereof to provide a single chamber occupying substantially the entire space within said receptacle and gradually widening upwardly, a liquid inlet in said bottom having means for -directing a stream of liquid upwardly from said bottom of said receptacle, said receptacle being of such depth that the liquid from said stream will accumulate therein to form a body of said liquid therein lling said chamber, means for feeding metallic objects heated to a predetermined temperature into the open top of said receptacle to pass by gravity into said body of liquid, overflow means for liquid discharged from said receptacle through said open top, and means controlling the supply of liquid to said inlet.

5. A quenching device of the character described comprising a funnel-shaped receptacle tapering uniformly from a restricted bottoni opening to a wide top end to form a conical chamber within the same, an axially arranged liquid inlet in said bottom having means for directing a stream of liquid upwardly from said bottom substantially axially of said conical chamber, said chamber providing a passage gradually widening from said inlet toward said top end and being of such depth that the liquid from said stream will accumulate therein to form a body of said liquid therein, means for feeding metallic objects heated to a predetermined temperature by gravity into the upper portion of said body of liquid and downwardly in said body of liquid into engagement with said stream, and overflow means for discharging liquid from the top of said receptacle.

6. A quenching device comprising an upper funnel-shaped open topped chamber, a lower chamber, a restricted passage leading from said lower chamber centrally into the bottom of said funnel-shaped chamber, a liquid inlet into said lower chamber, a combined article discharge and drain opening in said lower chamber and means for simultaneously opening said liquid inlet and closing said opening and for simultaneously closingr said inlet and opening said opening.

7. A quenching device comprising an upper funnel-shaped open topped chamber, a lower chamber, a restricted passage leading from said lower chamber centrally into the bottom of said funnel-shaped chamber, a liquid inlet into said lower chamber, a combined article discharge and drain opening in said lower chamber, means for simultaneously opening said liquid inlet and closing said opening and for simultaneously closing said inlet and opening sai-d opening, and article and liquid separating means for receiving the discharge from said opening.

8. A quenching device comprising an upper funnel-shaped open topped chamber, a lower chamber, a tubular adapter providing a restricted passage of predetermined diameter relative to the diameter of objects to be quenched in said apparatus leading from said lower chamber centrally into the bottom of said funnel-shaped chamber, a liquid inlet into said lower chamber, a combined article discharge and drain opening in said lower chamber, means for opening and closing said liquid inlet and means for closing and opening said opening.

9. The method of quenching heated metallic objects comprising supplying cooling liquid to a receptacle to maintain a body of said liquid therein having an upwardly directed stream of said cooling liquid within said body of liquid and feeding said heated objects downwardly into said body of liquid into engagement with said stream to suspend said objects in said liquid, interrupting the supply of liquid to terminate the suspension of said objects, and discharging said liquid and objects from said receptacle.

l0. The method of quenching heated round metallic objects comprising supplying cooling liquid to a receptacle to maintain a body of said liquid therein having an upwardly directed stream of said cooling liquid within said body of liquid and feeding said heated objects downwardly into said body of liquid, while rotating the same, into engagement with said stream to suspend said objects in said liquid, interrupting the supply of liquid to terminate the suspension of said objects, and discharging said liquid and objects from said receptacle. A

l1. The method of quenching heated metallic objects comprising supplying cooling liquid to a receptacle to maintain a body of said liquid therein having an upwardly directed stream of said cooling liquid within said body of liquid and feeding said heated objects downwardly into said body of liquid into engagement with said stream, said stream of liquid being fed into said body of liquid at a rate and in a direction to maintain said objects suspended in said liquid and out of continued contact with the walls of said receptacle and to thoroughly agitate said liquid to create a turbulent condition in said body of liquid adjacent said objects while so suspended.

12. The method of quenching heated metallic objects comprising supplying cooling liquid to a receptacle to maintain a body of said liquid therein having an upwardly directed stream of said cooling liquid within said body of liquid and feeding said heated objects downwardly into said body of liquid into engagement with said stream, said stream of liquid being fed into said body of liquid at a rate and in a direction to maintain said objects suspended in said liquid and out of continued contact with the walls of said receptacle and to thoroughly agitata said liquid to create a turbulent condition in said body of liquid adjacent said objects while so suspended, interrupting the supply of liquid to terminate the suspension of said objects and discharging said liquid land objects from said receptacle after interruption of said supply of liquid.

13. A quenching device comprising a receptacle adapted to cotain a body of cooling liquid therein, means for supplying heated metallic objects to said receptacle, inlet means feeding said cooling liquid upwardly into said receptacle from the bottom thereof, overflow means maintaining a body of said liquid therein of a predetermined depth, said inlet means comprising an upwardly opening orice directing an upwardly traveling stream of said liquid into said body of liquid into engagement with said objects to maintain said objects suspended in said body of liquid and out of continued contact with the walls of said receptacle, and means for interrupting the feeding of said liquid through said inlet means, said device having means for discharging said objects therefrom by gravity upon interrupting the feeding of said liquid.

14. A quenching device comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a body of cooling liquid therein, means for supplying heated metallic objects to said receptacle, inlet means feeding said cooling liquid upwardly into said receptacle from the bottom thereof, overflow means maintaining a body of said liquid therein of a predetermined depth, said inlet means comprising an upwardly opening orifice directing an upwardly traveling stream of said liquid into said body of liquid into engagement with said objects to maintain said objects suspended in said body of liquid and out of continued contact with the walls of said receptacle, and means for periodically interrupting the feeding of said liquid through said inlet means and simultaneously connecting said inlet means with a discharge opening to discharge said liquid and said objects through said inlet means by gravity.

15. A quenching device comprising an upwardly flaring open topped receptacle adapted to contain a body of cooling liquid therein, means for supplying heated metallic objects to said receptacle at intervals through the top thereof by gravity, inlet means feeding said cooling liquid upwardly into said receptacle from the bottom thereof, overflow means maintaining a body of said liquid therein of a predetermined depth, said inlet means comprising an upwardly opening orifice directing an upwardly traveling stream of said liquid into said body of liquid into engagement with said objects to maintain said objects suspended in said body of liquid and out of continued Contact with the walls of said receptacle, and means for interrupting the feeding of said liquid through said inlet means, said device having means for discharging said objects therefrom by gravity upon interrupting the feeding of said liquid.

16. A quenching device comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a body of cooling liquid therein, means for supplying heated metallic objects to said receptacle by gravity, said objects being rounded, and said means comprising a runway down which said objects roll before entering said receptacle, to establish rotation thereof, inlet means feeding said cooling liquid upwardly into said receptacle from the bottom thereof, overflow means maintaining a body of said liquid therein of a predetermined depth, said inlet means comprising an upwardly opening orifice directing an upwardly traveling stream of said liquid into said body of liquid into engagement with said objects to maintain said objects suspended in said body of liquid and under rotation therein, and means for interrupting the feeding of said liquid through said inlet means, said device having means for discharging said objects therefrom by gravity upon interrupting the feeding of said liquid.

HERBERT W. GRONEMEYER. 

